Assistant to the Villian by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

4 Stars

Evie Sage is looking for a new job, but she wasn’t planning on working for the villain. He pays well and he’s not making moves on her so she can live with some severed heads and screaming from the captives. Now she just needs to keep from drooling over her boss.

This would have been a 5-star read but for the fact that it ends on a cliff with no clue when the next book will be out, and it used modern idioms that didn’t fit the world. There was a scene where Evie was described as a wrecking ball, but this world is described as magical with horse drawn carriages. I would highly doubt they would have a wrecking ball available.

I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait for book 2. The slow burn between Evie and the Villian is amazing. Nothing beyond looks really happens in this book which was fine. Getting to know all the characters and seeing the give and take was awesome. The sucky thing is the bad guy. No spoilers but once you read it you will see why it sucks and it’s not because it’s poorly written.  

Book 1

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Shattered Truth by H Hunting

 

4 Stars

Nearly running into Winter, BJ found his Cinderella. Instead of a shoe she left her hockey skate. Winter is just trying to earn enough funds for school and hockey gear when she is nearly run off the road she didn’t realize her life was about to change.

Loved this book. It was light with bits of drama and seriousness. The drama wasn’t over the top and it just made me like the book even more. I loved the give and take between Winter and BJ. They balance each other out. I also liked seeing all the characters from Pucked series. It is not necessary to read that series to read this one. This is one of my favorite books by H. Hunting. Definitely give it a read.

Book 3 Lies, Hearts, and Truths

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Craving His Blood by Zoey Draven

3 Stars

Millie was on Krynn for her dad. He’s always wanted to come home, but he’s died before he could. She promised he would come home, and this forces her to work at a dyaan to earn the funds. While working there she meets the ruler of Erzos, Kythel. They are drawn together but can’t be together. When she’s most in need will he be there for her?

The first book was so good that I went in hoping this one would be awesome. I ended up being let down. I struggled with falling into this one and kept putting it down to do other things. It took about 50% of the book for me to stop doing that and finally blow through the book. I love how it ended and hope there are more in this world because one thing Zoey Draven does really well is world building.

Book 2 Brides of Kylorr

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Misfit by Elle Kennedy

3 Stars

RJ Shaw was not expecting his mother to remarry a millionaire and move him to a new school his senior year but that’s what’s happened. He doesn’t fit in with his classmates and doesn’t want to. He just wants to make it through to when he can go off to college. He makes some friends including his stepbrother but will their differences tear them apart?

This might be a low rating because I wasn’t interested in a YA angsty book. The writing was there, and the story was like all other YA angst. Boys’ mom marries wealthy and now he must learn to fit in with the rich crowd and a new school. It just didn’t hit well with me. Elle Kennedy does do a good job with building the world and characters so if you want teen angst to give this one a shot.

Book 1 Misfit

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Misfit-Prep-Elle-Kennedy-ebook/dp/B0BCB791X5/

Misfit, Elle Kennedy, 3 Stars, YA, Prep, Class Disparities

Vested Interest by Bethany Jadin

3 Stars

Emma is being pursued by a tech company. She thinks it’s just for her skills on the computer but they want it all. Will she give into to the carnal thoughts she’s having for them?

Slow burn to a why choose always gets me. Classic nerd girl who doesn’t think she’s good enough for anyone and the guys are already all in with her even before she knows they are interested. It is always interesting to see how this plays out. It is a serial and you will need to read the rest to get to the HEA which also leads to so much being left unanswered. I enjoyed the writing enough I will be checking out the next one but there better be answers.

Book 1 The Code

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Random Encounter by Allyson Lyndt

3 Stars

Adrienne meets Dustin and Phillips when they volunteer to be the nude models for her art class. She is intrigued by them and wants them but can’t be in a relationship right now. She’s just changed jobs and on her first day she finds out these men she’s so intrigued by are her new boss and coworker. They are in a relationship but open for more but nothing too series. With everything going on with her is she willing to take what she can get or will she demand it all.

The guys needed to have their asses handed to them way more than they do. They were dicks and the Adrienne deserved better. I loved her and she’s been screwed before which makes me want her to have better guys. I think my biggest issue was the guys had their relationship and because of them not being open and honest it screwed with their relationship with her and put her life in danger. The guys sort of make it up to her but more begging would not have been a disappointment. Enjoyed the author’s writing and world building so I will read the next one in the series.

Book 1 Three Player Tag Team

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Pucking Wrong Number by CR Jane

1 Star

Monroe has been on her own forever. A runaway from foster home and finally an adult just trying to make it in the world when one night she gets a random text. She tells the texter they have the wrong number, but they don’t believe her snarky response. What she doesn’t realize is that she texted Lincoln Daniels NHL golden boy who is intrigued by her snark. He is determined to have her no matter what. Will he win her over?

WHAT THE HELL did I just read? From the description of the book, it sounds like a standard hockey romance. Boy meets girl by text the wrong number and he goes after her. Boy is wealthy and plays pro hockey and girl is form foster/street kid trying to make her way in the world with nothing. Sounds good. MAJOR SPOILERS COMING.

That is until about ¾ of the way through and she finds out he is literally stalking her and isolating her, so she only has him. He’s got her phone and apartment bugged. Her landlord evicts her, so she has no where to live because her bosses fired her because he PAID them all off to do this to her. When she is rightfully angry and tries to throw him out of her life, he KIDNAPS her and CHAINS her to his bed. He won’t let her go because she is HIS.

I read dark romances all the time and don’t mind dub con if it is done correctly. This was not done correctly. She literally caves to his whims almost immediately and is all in because she just loves him sooooooo much. I can’t get behind a book that is classic abusive relationship. This one is a hard pass, and the author ends up on my no thank you list.

Book 1 Pucking Wrong

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